Fluorescent Adolescent (On Hold)

Chapter 4

Eric

We sat on the swings for a little longer, before a woman asked us if her five year old could play on them. Ruby immediately stood up. She then walked over to me and took my hand. "I think we should go up now." She said, her voice quiet and slightly raw. I offered her a reassuring smile and she attempted one in return.

We walked into the hospital and up to the desk. A plump woman with curly brown hair, a uniform and name tag on saying Wendy, sat at the reception desk. She was typing busily away on her computer. As we approached she looked up and smiled.

"Can I help you?" her voice was sweet as syrup.

Ruby coughed once and said "Yes, is Linda Jenkins out of examinations yet? She's my mum and I  need to see her." she rushed the end in a panic and I squeezed her hand. She briefly looked at me then back to the kind woman who was typing away again, looking for the answer we wanted.

After about a minute of waiting she replied "Ah, yes, she's in the Green Ward. Once you get there a nurse will show you where to go."

"Thank you very much." Ruby thanked quickly and pulled me off, walking very quickly in the direction of the ward her mother was staying.

Signs hanging from the ceiling directed us to where she was. We went up a flight of stairs and along an empty corridor. The hanging sign said that the Green Ward was in the I.C.U which made my heart beat a little quicker. I hope for Ruby's sake that she's okay. We came to the Green Ward and there was another desk with a nurse sitting at it, she was filing her nails looking bored. We flew over to her and before she even looked up Ruby said "Which room is Linda Jenkins in please? She's my mum."

The nurse looked surprised but replied "I'll show you there, love.".

We pushed through some heavy double doors which opened onto another corridor, but this one was full of doors which led to patient's rooms. We passed several of them before coming to room 104. Ruby abruptly stopped and turned to me. I could sense her panic and unease. I took her hand in both of mine.

"Do you want me to come in with you?"

She shook her head before I placed my lips on her shaking fingers, in an effort to calm her nerves. I think it worked a little because she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and slowly opened the door. She stepped in a looked back at me, I smiled. She turned her head and walked the rest of the way in.

Ruby

I slowly walked in knowing Eric was here if I needed him. I focused in on my mum's body still lifeless. She had butterfly stitched across her cheek and on her eyebrow, a black eye had formed and it was very swollen. Although the beeping on her heart monitor was steady I still didn't feel as though she were alive. She hasn't given me any comforting words like she normally does. I looked at the rest of her, the cuts on her arms had been bandaged and her chest had been wrapped, meaning she broke a rib or more. I lifted up the blanket at her feet and she had a plastic brace on her foot which followed the shape of her leg up to her knee. Her blonde hair was now clean and free of most of the blood.

I took in the whole of her appearence, my heart shattering. Why hadn't she woken yet? I blamed myself entirely. If I hadn't of called her then she wouldn't have come home. If I hadn't of called her then she wouldn't have come home. If I hadn't of called her then she wouldn't have come home. This was my fault. Guilt filled my entire being. I'm the one who nearly killed her.

My heart beat faster as I became angry, angry with myself. It's your fault. I crossed the room and pulled the chair in the corner up to her bed and sat down. I grabbed her hand, rubbing small circles onto the back of it with my palm.